The NBA free agency period will be upon us in less than two weeks, and the Minnesota Timberwolves must be prepared to make some very calculated decisions. With their current situation, the Wolves are in an extremely limited place from a financial perspective. They will likely not be able to keep their entire roster from this past season if they want to avoid incurring the penalties of the dreaded second apron.
This makes for some challenging choices for a team that just rose to the top of the Western Conference and enjoyed their best season in 20 years. Minnesota's front office will have to prioritize and work on bringing in affordable players that will allow them to keep some semblance of financial flexibility while improving their production on the court as well.
The Timberwolves' options can also open up if they choose to offload expensive contracts. As they evaluate which free agents they want to take a chance on, it is never a bad idea to attempt to make your superstar player happy. These are six upcoming free agents that have ties to Anthony Edwards.
1. Nic Claxton
One of the best rim protectors in the NBA, Nic Claxton is being looked at heavily by several teams across the association this offseason. His superior shot-blocking and rebounding ability make him a highly attractive option for teams who could use a game changer under the basket.
They say availability is the best ability, and Claxton has played in at least 71 games in each of the past two seasons. On his last contract, he was earning around $9 million per season, so he would likely command a pay raise with his improved play.
The connection with Edwards here is through the University of Georgia. Both played for the Bulldogs in college, with Claxton suiting up in Athens from 2017 through 2019. Ant would follow him in the next season from 2019 to 2020, before of course being drafted by Minnesota.